A group of former employees from Standard Group PLC has come together to expose a series of labor and human rights violations they claim have been systematically perpetrated by the company. The former employees are raising concerns about unpaid salary arrears, non-remittance of statutory deductions, and withheld severance pay following redundancy.
According to the group, since 2018, the media giant has failed to remit vital deductions from employees’ payslips, including contributions to SACCOs, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), pension funds, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) taxes. As a result, many employees and their families have been left in financial distress, unable to access essential services. On top of this, several employees have endured nine months of unpaid salaries.
In the most recent redundancy exercise, employees claim they were pressured into accepting a one-year payment plan that promised initial payments by September 30, 2024, but to date, no funds have been disbursed. This failure has only worsened the financial hardship experienced by those affected.
The group’s grievances are not new. Last year, they held a demonstration demanding the payment of their dues, where the newly appointed CEO of Standard Group promised to settle the arrears. However, to the frustration of the former employees, the promise remains unfulfilled, and they are still waiting for the payment that was pledged.
Nick Lusuli, a former Standard Group employee and spokesperson for the group, expressed frustration at the company’s treatment of its workers. "Our former colleagues and their families are facing unprecedented hardship due to the company’s failure to honor its legal obligations. We demand accountability and immediate action to rectify this gross misconduct," Lusuli said.
The former employees are now calling on the government, labor unions, and the public to support their fight for justice. They are seeking the immediate payment of their outstanding salaries, dues, and the honoring of all financial obligations by Standard Media Group.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the former employees, with the support of the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), plan to deliver a notification to the police for a planned protest march aimed at denouncing the injustice they have faced. The protest will culminate in a press conference at 11:30 AM, where they will address the media and share their grievances.
Press Conference Details:
- Date: 08 April, 2025
- Time: 11:30 AM
- Location: Outside Nairobi Area Police Station
For media inquiries, please contact:
Fred on 0731 337438.
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